Diagnosis:Condica sutor is one of the most
abundant species of the family Noctuidae in the tropical and subtropical
regions of the New World. Like so many of the primarily tropical species
found also in North America it is probably high dispersive, overwintering
in the southern parts of the United States, the Antilles, and Mexico and
moving northward every summer. This is a hypothesis, however, and is not
supported by any evidence. The species is not particularly distinctive.
However the forewing is a dark fleshy brown with a slightly shiney, smooth
appearance. Even though the species has no particular feature to separate
it from other species in the genus the forewing color and smooth appearance
will generally separate it from other species of Condica in North
America. The reniform spot does not have a white spot in its lower half.
There is a little black scaling in cell and the black runs through the
lower half of the reniform spot. The claviform spot is a small, dull black
dot, and is almost absent in many specimens. The orbicular spot is very
obscure to nearly absent. The postmedial line is double and usually has
dark streaks on the veins. The subterminal line is usually fairly well
marked, but mostly as a change in color between the terminal and subterminal
regions. The hindwing of both males and females is heavily infuscated
with brown, the brown contrasting with a yellowish white fringe.

Distribution: This species is abundant throughout the
tropical and subtropical regions of the New World. It also has a wide
distribtuion in North America, particularly in the eastern United States.
Specimens, however, have also been taken in northern Arizona and western
Washington. I speculate that the species is highly migratory and may not
be able to overwinter north of the southern United States. The species
is not particularly variable, although the color of the forewing can vary
between individuals within populations. There is no indication of any
geographical variation.

Identification Quality: Excellent

Larva: The larva has been described by Crumb (1956).

Foodplants: The larva has been reared on a variety of
herbaceous plants. In the USNM there are specimens reared from burdock
[Xanthium sp.] (Asteraceae), Aegeratum sp. (Asteraceae),
and celery [Celeri graveolans] (Apiaceae). Kimball (1965) also
records celery as a foodplant as well as Wedelia sp. (Asteraceae)
and Tagates sp. (Asteraceae). Stoner and Wisecup (1930) report
sutor as a pest of celery in Florida. The species probably will eat most
herbaceous plants in damp habitats and the injury to celery may be a matter
of location and not any preference of the larvae for celery. Most of the
recorded foodplants of sutor are in the Asteraceae and the composites
are the prefered food group for the genus Condica.

Condica sutor

Even though this species has no particular feature to separate it from
other species in the genus the forewing color and smooth appearance
will generally separate it from other species of Condica in
North America.